Road-grading device



2 SheLs-Sheet 2 F. D. WILSON ET AL Nov, 25, 1924.

ROAD GRADING DEVICE Filed July 22, 1922 l u m m ww v bu m nu a EN s 31 N\2 v M .r. MN 0N m W\..\w./ MN m\ A2 I \N 1 9 s 6 NE Q 7 E I m PatentedNov. 25, 1924..

UNE HE TATE FREDERICK D. WILSGN AND LEONARD S. BURNS, 0F OT'IUIEWA,IOWA. ASSIGNOLRS, BY

MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO AUSTIN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLI-NOIS, A CORPORATION OF iLLINO'IS.

EOAD-GR-ADING DEVICE.

Application filed July 22, 19.22. Serial No. 576,703.

To all whom it maq concern.

Beit known that we, FREDERICK l). VVIL- SON and LEONARD S. BURNs,citizens of the United States, residing at Ottun'nva, in the county oflVapello and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Road-Grading Devices, of which the following is aspecification.

Our invention relates to road grading devices, and is specially designedfor use in connectionwith tractors and motor vehicles of a heavier type.It is of a similar character to the machine set forth in our formerapplication for Letters Patent of the United States, filed December 8th,1921, Serial No. 520,934, the present invention being more particularlyfitted and adapted for use in connection with a smaller type of tractor,such, for instance, as is known commercially as the Fordson tractor.

One of the purposes of the present device is to provide a combinedgrader, leveler, and drag, or smoother, the joint operation of whichwill be effective in maintaining a roadway in perfect condition fortravel.

Another purpose of the device is to provide a sliding, or floatingframe, which will limit the depth of operation of the grader blade, andinsure a uniform action thereof. Means of a flexible or yieldablecharacter are also provided whereby the weight of the tractor can beimparted to the frame in any desired degree, to increase or decrease theamount of engagement thereof with the earth, as may be desired. Thismeans is so arranged that it may be independently applied to either sideof the frame.

Another purpose of the invention consists in the manner of attachmentthereof to the tractor, at a point forward of the frame, so that thefront end of the frame will be supported in a substantially rigidmanner, but so as to permit a desired amount of freedom of movement ofthe rear part of the frame, with relation to the earth.

Another feature of the invention-consists in an arangement ofcompressiondevices for holding the grader. mechanism in working engagement with theearth, which are located at a point to receive the greatest weight ofthe tractor.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of the invention, with parts of anassociated tractor shown in broken lines.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a detail of one of'the compression devices, partly in section.

The main frame of the device consists of a pair of spaced-apart runners1 and 2. preferably'of angle-plate formation, united at their forwardends by a grader-blade 3, and at their rear ends by a cross-rod 4,having a link connection with the runners at its ends, so as to permitof a limited amount of elevation of one of said runners independently ofthe other. Near their rear ends said runners are formed into archedportions 5, from which is supported a V-shaped plate 6, by means of arms6*. The runners are further united by cross-rods 7, providing a lateralbracing therefor. At the rear end of the runners is a bar 8, connectedtherewith by means of chains 9. Attached to the front end of the frameis a pair of draw-bars 10, the front ends of which are connected with acoupling 11 on the lower end of a bolt 12, which comprises thepivot-bolt for the front axleof the tractor, such axle being indicatedat 13.

The broken line 1 1 indicates one of the rear wheels of a tractor, and15 the housing of the rear axle, secured to the ends of which is a pairof racks 16 having toothed seg ments 1'7, engagedby pawls 18 on handlevers 19, fulcrumed on the racks 16, and fitted with handles 20operatively connected with the pawls 18 in the usual manner of suchdevices. The levers 19 are fitted with short arms 21, to which areattached hollow rods 22, in which are slidable the upper ends of rods23, the lower ends of said rods23 being slidable in hollow rods 24:secured to the runners 1 and 2, respectively. Interposed between theends of the rods 22 and 24 is a coiled spring 25, and the amount ofseparation of such rods is limited by means of pins in the ends of therods 23, projecting into slots 26 and 27 in the parts 22 and 24,respectively. By manipulation of the levers 19 thesprings 25 can becompressed, with the result that a greater amount of the weight of thetractor is applied to the runners 1 and 2. Under normal conditionslittle tension would berequired on the springs 25, but in some kinds ofearth a greater amount of force will be required to maintain the bladein proper working position. This would be the case in operating in hardor lumpy soil, in which an ordinary grader would not operatesatisfactorily. The rear end of a tractor is usually the heaviest, andthe operator is usually stationed on the machine at a point above therear axle, so that ample weight is provided at that point for exertingthe desired amount of force on the runners. The hand-levers 19 are alsoconveniently located for the operators control, and are preferablyarranged so as to operate in opposite directions, as shown, so that whenit is desired to exert a pressure on both runners at once, one of thehand-levers can be moved forwardly and the other rearwardly.

By a proper operation of the hand-levers the members 22 can be elevateduntil the pins in the rods 23 are in adjacent ends of the slots 26 and27, with little or no tension on the springs 25. A continued movement ofthe levers will operate to raise the runners 1 and 2 from the ground asufficient distance to permit the tractor to be transported from oneplace to another without interference by the grader. For the purpose ofsuch transportation the bar 8 can be supported on the rear ends of therunners. It will be obvious that either of the runners 1 and 2 can beraised or lowered independently of the other. and that one of suchrunners can be held in a more elevated plane than the other, as might berequired in working on an incline, or in passing obstructions.

To prevent lateral movement of the rear part of the frame, and at thesame time permit a vertical movement thereof, there is attached to therear axle housing of the tractor a bracket 28, to which is fixed a plate29, having an angular portion to which is piv oted one end ofa rod 30,the other end of which has a pivotal. connection with the run ner 2, atthe upper part of the arch 5 therein.

The blade is disposed diagonally of theframe, and operates upon thesurface of a highway in the usual manner of grading devices, except thatthe weight of the tractor prevents it from lifting when it encounterslumps or other inequalities of the soil. The plate 6 follows after theblade 3, leveling and packing the earth in rear thereof, and followingafter the plate 6 is the bar 8, the purpose of which is to still furthersmooth. the piece of roadway that is being renewed. These last-nameddevices also assist in filling up any depressions made by the wheels ofthe tractor.

The extension of the runners 1 and 2 rearwardly past the plate 6 causessuch plate to move over the earth in a uniform manner, without digginginto the same. The bolt 12 may be specially prepared, and substitutedfor the usual pivot bolt of the tractor.

Changes can be made in the construction and arrangement of the variousparts of the machine, such as would suggest themselves to one skilled inthe art to which it pertains without departing from the general scopeand purpose thereof.

lVhat we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination with a portable frame, a slidable frame formed ofspaced apart runners, having arched portions near their rear ends; acutting blade at the forward end of said slidable frame; a levelingdevice supported in said arched portions; means for attachment of theforward end of said slidable frame to the forward part of the port-ableframe: and means for communieating the weight of the portable frame tothe slidable frame, at a point between said cutting and levelingdevices.

2. In combination with a portable frame. a slidable frame formed ofspaced apart runners, united at their forward ends by a cutting device;a leveling device near the rear ends of said runners; a drag mechanismattached to the rear end of said frame; means for attachment of saidsliding frame to said portable frame; and means for imparting the weightof said portable frame to said slidablc frame at a point between saidcutting and leveling devices.

3. In combination with a port-able frame. a slidable frame having aconnection with the forward part of said portable frame. and providednear its rear end with an upwardly arched portion; a cutting bladecarried at the forward end of said slidable frame: a leveling devicesupported in the arched portion of said frame; so that the lower edgethereof will be in substantially the same plane as the lower edge of thecutting blade; and means carried bv said portable frame for causing ayieldable engagement of said slidable frame with the earth, said meansbeing applied between said cutting and leveling devices.

el. In combination with a portable frame. a slidable frame connectedwith the forward part of said portable frame, and provided with anarched portion near its rear end: a cutting blade carried by the forwardend of said portable frame; a leveling device supported in said archedportion so as to operate in substantially the same plane as said cuttingblade: compression devices carried by said portable frame, capable ofexerting a yieldable force on said slidable frame. between said cuttingand leveling devices; and means for increasing or diminishing thepressure of said compression devices. as desired.

5. In combination with a portable frame, a slidable frame formed ofspaced-apart runners; a cutting blade carried by the forward ends ofsaid runners; a leveling blade supported by said runners at a point nearthe rear ends thereof; means for connection of the forward end of saidslidable frame with said portable frame, near the front end thereof;compression devices carried by said portable frame, and capable ofexerting a ieldable force on said runners, independcntly of each other;means for controlling the amount of tension of said compression devices;and means for preventing lateral movement of the slidable frame withrelation to the portable frame.

6. In combination with a portable frame, a slidable frame formed ofspaced-apart runners having arched portions near their rear ends, andprovided at their forward. ends with means for connection with theportable frame; a cutting blade carried at the forward ends of saidrunners; a leveling device supported in the arched portions of saidrunners; a drag having a flexible connection with the rear ends of saidrunners; compression devices carried by said portable frame and capableof exerting a yieldable force on said runners, independently of eachother, at a point between said cutting blade and leveling device; andmeans for controlling the tension of said compression devices 7. Incombination with a portable frame, a slidable frame formed of spacedapart runners having an arched portion near their rear ends; a cuttingblade carried by the front part of said frame; a leveling device carriedthe arched portions of said frame; a draw-bar connection for attachmentof said slidable frame with said portable frame, so as to cause adownward pull on the front end of said portable frame; compressiondevices carried by said portable frame and capable of exerting ayieldable force on said slidable frame; and means for controlling theamount of tension of said compression devices, said means being capableof elevating said slidable frame from contact with the earth.

8. In combination with a tractor, having small forward carrying wheelsand a pivoted axle therefor, and a pair of large rear carrying wheelsand a stationary axle therefor, a slidable frame having a draw-barconnection with the pivot of such forward axle, and provided with anarched portion intermediate its ends; a cutting blade carried by theforward end of said slidable frame; a leveling device supported in thearched portion of said frame; a drag having a flexible connection withthe rear end of said frame; controlling mechanism mounted on the rearaxle of said tractor; and compression devices connecting saidcontrolling means with said frame, capable of actuating either sidethereof independently of the other, or 'both sides thereofsimultaneously, said devices being adapted to increase or diminish theforce applied to said frame, or elevate the same above the earth, ifdesired.

The combination of a tractor provided with a pivoted front axle; aslidable frame having a draw-bar connection with the pivot of such axle;a cutting blade and leveling device carried by said frame; andcontrolling devices mounted on the rear of the tractor for raising andlowering said slidable frame under tension.

10' The combination of a tractor pro-- vided with a pivoted front axle;a slidable frame having a draw-bar connection with the pivot of suchaxle; controlling devices provided with compression means mounted on therear of the tractor which are adapted to increase or diminish the forceapplied to said frame.

1 1. The combination of a tractor provided with a pivoted front axle; aslidable frame having a draw-bar connection with such axle; said framebeing provided with spaced apart cutting and leveling devices; andmanually adjustable means attached to the rear of the tractor forapplying a portion of the tractors weight to said frame.

12, In combination with a portable frame, a slidable frame formed ofspaced-apart runners; a cutting blade carried by the forward ends ofsaid runners; a levelling blade supported by said runners at a pointnear the rear ends thereof; means for connection of the forward end ofsaid slidable frame with said portable frame, near the frontend thereof;telescopic connecting members interposed between said portable frame andslidable frame, provided with tension devices midway their ends; meansfor increas ing or decreasing the force of said tension devices, atwill.

13. In combination with an automotive vehicle, a depth gauging frame,having a plurality of rigid draft members pivotally connecting theforward end with the forward end of said vehicle, and a cutting blade,levelling bar, and drag member secured to said frame substantially asshown.

14. In combination, an automotive vehicle, a depth gauging frame, arigid draft member pivotally connecting the forward end of said frame tothe forward end of said vehicle, and dirt moving devices carried by saidframe.

15. In combination, an automotive vehiole, a depth gauging frame,beneath said vehicle, a rigid draft member pivoted for vertical movementonly, connecting the forward end of said frame with the forward end ofsaid vehicle, and earth moving devices carried by said frame.

16. In combination, an automotive vehicle having front and rear wheels,at cutting blade located between said front and rear wheels, a depthgauging frame secured to and travelling in the path of said blade, andrigid draft members vertically pivoted to said frame and vehicle.

[7. In coi'nl'iination, an automotive vehicle wherein the steering andpropelling of same is accomplished by the front and rear wheelslQSPOCtlYQl Y, a cutting blade, a depth gauging frame secured to saidframe and travelling only on the smooth surface made by said blade, anddraft means coi'inecting said frame and vehicle in a manner causing adownward pull on the forward end of said vehicle substantially as shown.

18. In combination, an automotive vehicle wherein. the steering andpropelling is accomplished by the front and rear wheels, respectively, aroad planing machine com-- posed of a depth gauging frame and bladeoperating beneath said vehicle, and draft means being so located that adownward pull is caused on the forward wheels of said vehicle tofacilitate the steering of same.

19. In combination, an automotive vehicle wherein the steering andpropelling is accomplished by the front and rear wheels respectively, aroad maintenance machine operating beneath said vehicle, draft means,said means being capable of causing a down-- ward pull on the frontWheels of said Vehicle and later controlling means, in the rear of thedraft means connecting said vehicle and machine,

20. In combination, an automotive vehicle wherein the steering andpropelling is accomplished by the front and rear Wheels, respectively, aroad maintenance machine composed of a depth gauging frame and bladeoperating beneath said Vehicle, con necting means, said means causing adownward pull on the front wheels of said vehicle, and means forapplying the desired dc gree of vehicle weight to said machine.

21. In combination, an automotive vehi cle wherein the steering andpropellingis accou'iplished by the front and rear wheels,

respectively, a road maintenance machine cle wherein the steering andpropelling is accomplished by the front and rear wheels, respectively, aroad maintenance machine composed of a depth gauging frame, and bladeoperating beneath said vehicle, eonnecting means, said means causing adownward pull on the front wheels of said vehi cle, and means providedwith tension devices, for the independent control of each side of saidmachine.

23. In combination, an automotive vehi cle, a smoothing blade, a depthgaugingframe secured to said blade, draft means, lateral control means,and means for applying a portion of the vehicle weight to said framebetween the draft and lateral control means on each side of thelongitudinal center line, substantially as shown.

In testimony whereof we affiX our signatures.

FREDERICK D. lVILSON. LEONARD S. BURNS.

